US3769748A - Plant watering device - Google Patents
Plant watering device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3769748A US3769748A US00238388A US3769748DA US3769748A US 3769748 A US3769748 A US 3769748A US 00238388 A US00238388 A US 00238388A US 3769748D A US3769748D A US 3769748DA US 3769748 A US3769748 A US 3769748A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- pad
- reservoir
- water
- pot
- ring
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G27/00—Self-acting watering devices, e.g. for flower-pots
- A01G27/04—Self-acting watering devices, e.g. for flower-pots using wicks or the like
Definitions
- ABSTRACT A plant watering device for potted plants in which the pot is provided with one or more holes in its bottom wall.
- the device includes a reservoir for containing a supply of water and a phenolic foam pad disposed generally centrally of the reservoir with the upper surface of the pad positioned above the level of water in the reservoir and adapted to support the bottom wall of the pot.
- the pad may be provided with plant nutrients, preferably in the nature of slow time release pellets.
- small phenolic foam plugs are provided to be inserted in a hole or holes in the bottom of the pot to insure water transfer between the pad and the soil or other grown medium in the pot.
- bottom watering of plants also has certain advantages, but if the plant is merely immersed in a reservoir of water, the roots and soil will become water logged and the chance'of plant survival is remote.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which nutrients may be supplied to the plant along with the water, such nutrient being an integral part of the device, thereby eliminating the need for human monitoring or judgement as to when such nutrient is to be added to the plant.
- a further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which means are provided to insure adequate and proper water transfer from the device to the plant.
- FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the component parts of the device of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device with a pot positioned thereon;
- FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the foam pad with one arrangement of fertilizer pellets associated therewith;
- FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a modified arrangement of the pad and pellets.
- FIG. Si is a portiona'l view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a different'form of pot and illustrating foam plugs inthe Pot holes.
- the device of the present invention is adapted to automatically supply water and nutrients to a conventional potted plant.
- a conventional pot whether formed of terra cotta or plastic, will include side walls 14, an open top 16, and a bottom wall 18.
- Most clay or terra cotta pots will have a single central drain hole in wall 18 (as seen in FIG. 2), while many plastic pots will have a plurality of holes 22 in the bottom wall positioned adjacent the side walls. Soil or other growth material will normally be deposited within the pot and extend from'th'e bottom wall 18 to adjacent the top 16.
- the device of the present invention includes a water reservoir 24, a phenolic foam pad 26, a pad supporting ring 28, and a cover 30 overlying the otherwise exposed water in the reservoir.
- Reservoir 24 is here shown as being of shallow bowllike configuration, having a bottom wall 32 and upstanding side wall 34.
- the walls 32 and 34 define an open top chamber for receiving and storing a supply of water.
- the pad 26 is formed of expanded phenolic foam, or similar material which, after foaming or other production techniques is form retaining, capable of absorbing and holding a quantity of water far in excess of its own weight, and capable of supporting a potted plant when placed on the pad and transferring moisture from the pad to the growth material in the pot through holes 20 or 22.
- the pad 26 serves as a wick, since even though the level of water in the reservoir will be lower than the upper surface 36 of the pad, the latter, even if only a lower portion thereof is in engagement with the water, will absorb the water and effect a substantially uniform wetting thereof, including its upper exposed surface.
- Pad 26 is preferably laterally supported by the annular ring 28 with the upper edge of the ring being generally coplanar with the upper surface of the pad.
- the lower portion of the ring may be provided with an apertured bottom wall (not shown) for further pad support, but in any event must provide some communication to the lower portion of the padand the water in the reservo'ir, even when the water is almost depleted.
- one or more openings 38 are provided on the ring'adjacent itsbottom. The foam pad should be fitted snugly within the ring.
- the'ring and pad assembly should be centered in the reservoir, and any suitable centering means can be provided for this purpose.
- the ring is here shown as being provided with radial wings 40 which engage the side walls 34 of the reservoir.
- cover 30 which may consist of a disc-like member having a central opening 42 surrounding ring 28 and an outer edge 44 extending to the side wall of the reservoir.
- small plugs 48 of the same phenolic foam may be inserted in one or more holes to insure adequate water transfer.
- Nutrient or fertilizer is transferred on a controlled basis with the water from the pad to the pot.
- the nutrients are in the form of pellets 50 of controlledrelease fertilizer.
- An example of such pellets is'OS- MOCOTE, a registered trademark of Sierra Chemical Company, and the pellets release time can extend over many months, even though in contact with the moistenedfoam material.
- the pellets 50 may be introduced into the pad during the foaming operation, or as shown in FIG. 3, mechanically deposited and pressed into one or both surfaces of the pad. In FIG. 4, the pad is formed of two cylindrical adjacent sections 26a and 26b with the pellets 50 depicted therebetween.
- the device and'system described above is particularly well suited for desirable bottom watering, if the plant is overwatered from above, excess water can drain out through the hole 20 or 22, through pad 26 and into the reservoir. Also, although only a single pot is shown in operative position on the device, a number of pots may be positioned thereon so long as a bottom hole in each of the pots overlies at least one upper surface portion of the pad.
- the cover 30 could surround the central pad and ring and float on the water in the reservoir. The cover would then serve the dual function of providing anevaporation barrier and serving as an indicator for the water level in the reservoir.
- a plant watering and feeding device for automatically transferring moisture and nutrients to a growth medium contained in a pot having an aperture adjacent the bottom thereof, said device comprising:
- a water reservoir having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall;
- av porous pad disposed in said reservoir, said pad comprising a central portion, and generally planar upper and lower surfaces respectively disposed on either side of said central portion and parallel to each other, said central portion being impregnated with plant nutrients, said upper surface defining a generally planar exposed pot-supporting platform disposed above the normal water level in said reservoir, said lower surface being in operative communication with said water adjacent said bottom wall of said reservoir, said pad being capable of absorbing and retaining a quantity of water in excess of its own dry weight, and further being form retaining .and dimension stable in both dry and wet conditions whenvsaid pot is placed upon said platform;
- said pad serving to absorb water from said reservoir so as to effect a substantially uniform wetting thereof, including its exposed upper platform, even though only a lower portion thereof is in flow communication with said water, by having water from said resevoir enter said pot by passing initially through said aperture and said pad lower surface, thence through said pad central portion and said nutrients, and, finally through said pad upper surface into said growth medium.
- centering means comprises radial wings which engage said side wall of said reservoir.
- the device set forth in claim 1 further including an annular cover member having a central opening surrounding said ring and an outer edge extending to said side wall of said reservoir.
- the device set forth in claim 2 further including plugs formed of expanded phenolic foam insertable in openings in the bottom of said pot to provide contact between said platform and said growth medium.
- the device set forth in claim 1 further including means extending from adjacent said pad to adjacent said reservoir side wall and floatable in said water in said reservoir to define an evaporation barrier and water level indicator.
- said pad central portion further comprises adjacent generally planar porous upper and lower cylindrical members disposed respectively on either side of and in tangential contact with said nutrient pellets, an upper surface of said upper cylindrical member defining said upper surface of said pad, and a lower surface of said lower cylindrical member defining said lower surface of said pad, a lower surface of said upper cylindrical member and an upper surface of said lower cylindrical member being in tangentialicontactwith said nutrient pellets and defining a void thereinbetween wherein are disposed said nutrient pellets.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US23838872A | 1972-03-27 | 1972-03-27 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3769748A true US3769748A (en) | 1973-11-06 |
Family
ID=22897664
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00238388A Expired - Lifetime US3769748A (en) | 1972-03-27 | 1972-03-27 | Plant watering device |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3769748A (it) |
JP (1) | JPS495734A (it) |
Cited By (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4051628A (en) * | 1975-11-12 | 1977-10-04 | Hortigro, Inc. | Apparatus for the improved dispensing of plant nutriments |
US4161844A (en) * | 1975-12-12 | 1979-07-24 | Bayer Aktiengesellschaft | Hydroculture plant pot with an inserted container for receiving a hydroculture fertilizer |
US4207705A (en) * | 1977-10-21 | 1980-06-17 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Plant nourishment delivery device |
US4343109A (en) * | 1980-11-12 | 1982-08-10 | Reinhold Holtkamp | Capillary disc and support therefor |
US4539038A (en) * | 1982-02-09 | 1985-09-03 | Airwick Ag | Device ensuring permanent nutrition of pot plants |
US4908986A (en) * | 1989-03-13 | 1990-03-20 | Garden Hardy, Inc. | Plant fertilizing and watering device |
US5020275A (en) * | 1990-10-15 | 1991-06-04 | Bednarzik Uwe H | Watering method and apparatus for plants |
US5325627A (en) * | 1992-08-19 | 1994-07-05 | Anderson Charles E | Weed control device for potted plants |
US5341596A (en) * | 1993-03-30 | 1994-08-30 | Kao Hsin Lin | Automatic water supply device for potted plants |
US5581937A (en) * | 1995-09-01 | 1996-12-10 | Jenkins; Darrell O. | Plant watering apparatus |
US6070360A (en) * | 1998-11-04 | 2000-06-06 | Liao; Chi-Wei | Plant cultivating basin |
US6138411A (en) * | 1999-06-25 | 2000-10-31 | Lin; Li-Chieh | Plant container with reservoir and nested pots |
US20040016179A1 (en) * | 2000-11-01 | 2004-01-29 | Moran Christopher Raymond | Watering system |
US20070006527A1 (en) * | 2005-07-08 | 2007-01-11 | Chen-Che Chen | Flowerpot for growing flower |
US20080236039A1 (en) * | 2007-03-26 | 2008-10-02 | Warren William T | Plant growing container with internal water reservoir |
US20170188529A1 (en) * | 2016-01-04 | 2017-07-06 | This Town, Llc | Sustained release irrigation apparatus with pivoting cap |
US10238227B1 (en) * | 2017-12-01 | 2019-03-26 | Caroline Burke | Harvested tree reservoir |
US11490574B2 (en) * | 2017-11-03 | 2022-11-08 | Republic Of Korea(Management : Rural Development Administration) | Flower water receiver |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AU582614B2 (en) * | 1984-12-25 | 1989-04-06 | Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. | Composition containing dispersed pigment and preparation method thereof |
Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DD55391A (it) * | ||||
US1342786A (en) * | 1918-12-14 | 1920-06-08 | White David Roy | Plant-irrigating device |
US1879784A (en) * | 1931-01-10 | 1932-09-27 | Henry J Benz | Flowerpot support and irrigating device |
US2072172A (en) * | 1935-12-16 | 1937-03-02 | Robert H Lockyer | Combination flowerpot |
US2135998A (en) * | 1937-04-06 | 1938-11-08 | Alvin D Beyer | Means for nourishing plants |
US2157340A (en) * | 1936-06-24 | 1939-05-09 | Bartlett Jones W | Method and means for supporting potted plants |
US2246490A (en) * | 1940-04-15 | 1941-06-24 | Robert H Flues | Flowerpot holder |
US3058263A (en) * | 1960-07-14 | 1962-10-16 | Alfred O Reynolds | Plant grower assembly |
US3060012A (en) * | 1960-08-23 | 1962-10-23 | Pavek Jerry | Fertilizer cartridge insert |
US3409165A (en) * | 1967-04-03 | 1968-11-05 | Olin Mathieson | Floating deck |
US3474931A (en) * | 1968-03-12 | 1969-10-28 | Olin Mathieson | Flexible floating blanket for vapor loss control in vertical storage tanks |
GB1200457A (en) * | 1966-09-07 | 1970-07-29 | B R C Patents Ltd | Plant pot watering |
-
1972
- 1972-03-27 US US00238388A patent/US3769748A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1973
- 1973-03-27 JP JP48034995A patent/JPS495734A/ja active Pending
Patent Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DD55391A (it) * | ||||
US1342786A (en) * | 1918-12-14 | 1920-06-08 | White David Roy | Plant-irrigating device |
US1879784A (en) * | 1931-01-10 | 1932-09-27 | Henry J Benz | Flowerpot support and irrigating device |
US2072172A (en) * | 1935-12-16 | 1937-03-02 | Robert H Lockyer | Combination flowerpot |
US2157340A (en) * | 1936-06-24 | 1939-05-09 | Bartlett Jones W | Method and means for supporting potted plants |
US2135998A (en) * | 1937-04-06 | 1938-11-08 | Alvin D Beyer | Means for nourishing plants |
US2246490A (en) * | 1940-04-15 | 1941-06-24 | Robert H Flues | Flowerpot holder |
US3058263A (en) * | 1960-07-14 | 1962-10-16 | Alfred O Reynolds | Plant grower assembly |
US3060012A (en) * | 1960-08-23 | 1962-10-23 | Pavek Jerry | Fertilizer cartridge insert |
GB1200457A (en) * | 1966-09-07 | 1970-07-29 | B R C Patents Ltd | Plant pot watering |
US3409165A (en) * | 1967-04-03 | 1968-11-05 | Olin Mathieson | Floating deck |
US3474931A (en) * | 1968-03-12 | 1969-10-28 | Olin Mathieson | Flexible floating blanket for vapor loss control in vertical storage tanks |
Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4051628A (en) * | 1975-11-12 | 1977-10-04 | Hortigro, Inc. | Apparatus for the improved dispensing of plant nutriments |
US4161844A (en) * | 1975-12-12 | 1979-07-24 | Bayer Aktiengesellschaft | Hydroculture plant pot with an inserted container for receiving a hydroculture fertilizer |
US4207705A (en) * | 1977-10-21 | 1980-06-17 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Plant nourishment delivery device |
US4343109A (en) * | 1980-11-12 | 1982-08-10 | Reinhold Holtkamp | Capillary disc and support therefor |
US4539038A (en) * | 1982-02-09 | 1985-09-03 | Airwick Ag | Device ensuring permanent nutrition of pot plants |
US4908986A (en) * | 1989-03-13 | 1990-03-20 | Garden Hardy, Inc. | Plant fertilizing and watering device |
US5020275A (en) * | 1990-10-15 | 1991-06-04 | Bednarzik Uwe H | Watering method and apparatus for plants |
US5325627A (en) * | 1992-08-19 | 1994-07-05 | Anderson Charles E | Weed control device for potted plants |
US5341596A (en) * | 1993-03-30 | 1994-08-30 | Kao Hsin Lin | Automatic water supply device for potted plants |
US5581937A (en) * | 1995-09-01 | 1996-12-10 | Jenkins; Darrell O. | Plant watering apparatus |
US6070360A (en) * | 1998-11-04 | 2000-06-06 | Liao; Chi-Wei | Plant cultivating basin |
US6138411A (en) * | 1999-06-25 | 2000-10-31 | Lin; Li-Chieh | Plant container with reservoir and nested pots |
US20040016179A1 (en) * | 2000-11-01 | 2004-01-29 | Moran Christopher Raymond | Watering system |
US20070006527A1 (en) * | 2005-07-08 | 2007-01-11 | Chen-Che Chen | Flowerpot for growing flower |
US20080236039A1 (en) * | 2007-03-26 | 2008-10-02 | Warren William T | Plant growing container with internal water reservoir |
US20170188529A1 (en) * | 2016-01-04 | 2017-07-06 | This Town, Llc | Sustained release irrigation apparatus with pivoting cap |
US10667476B2 (en) * | 2016-01-04 | 2020-06-02 | This Town, Llc | Sustained release irrigation apparatus with pivoting cap |
US11490574B2 (en) * | 2017-11-03 | 2022-11-08 | Republic Of Korea(Management : Rural Development Administration) | Flower water receiver |
US10238227B1 (en) * | 2017-12-01 | 2019-03-26 | Caroline Burke | Harvested tree reservoir |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPS495734A (it) | 1974-01-18 |
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